Machine fob splitting fire-wood



UNITED STATES PATENT CFFIL 1 IVILLIAM O. BISBEE, OF CAMDEN, NEW' JERSEY.

MACHINE FOB SPLITTING FIRE-7001).

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,485, dated August 28, 1855.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM C. BIsBEn, of the city of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Rifting Fire-IVood; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2, a cross section of the same on the line l, 2. Fig. 3 is a ground plan, and Fig. 4 a ground plan with the slide and box removed.

The same letters of reference allude to similar parts throughout the several views.

My invention consists in placing the block of wood to be operated upon, within a box attached to a stationary frame, on which a sliding frame with a knife is caused to have a backward and forward movement by cranks and rods, or any other convenient driving apparatus, so that the said knife may, on the forward motion of the sliding frame, so operate upon the block of wood as to rift therefrom aflat piece. This, after being entirely separated from the block, drops down into such a position, that the sliding frame on its backward or reverse movement draws the said flat piece against a series of knives with vertical cutting edges secured to the stationary frame and arranged in a peculiar manner as hereinafter more fully described, so that the flat piece of wood may be again rifted into a number of strips suitable in size for kindling tires and other similar purposes; the same process being continued until the entire block has been rifted when another may be placed within the box to be operated upon in a similar manner.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is the stationary frame of the machine; B, the sliding frame which fits in V shaped guides a on the frame A, and has a reciprocating motion given to it by the crank J, the pin I of which is embraced by one end of the connecting rod I-I, the other end being connected to lugs on t-he sliding frame P. On the crank shaft is the spur wheel K gearing into the driving pinion L on the shaft M, which is caused to revolve by any convenient means. On the sliding frame B is secured the first rifting knife C which is arranged so that, when moved forward to its farthest extent, its edge may enter a small recess Z on the back of the stationary box D, the latter having lugs f for securing it to the guides a of the frame A. The sliding frame B passes underneath the box D and has a shoulder at G are vertical edged knives, secured to the frame A, and arranged in the peculiar manner shown in Fig. 4 for a purpose hereafter set forth. 1

N is the block of wood to be operated upon, placed within the box D and resting on the sliding frame B. Directly under this block, under the sliding frame, and hinged to the frame A is the trap E of about the same width as the inside of the box D. To keep this trap pressed against B when not otherwise depressed, is the spring F and the lip e on the frame A prevents it from being depressed too far.

Operation The block of wood N being placed within the box D, and the working parts of the machine being in the position shown in the drawing, on turning the crank J the sliding frame B and with it the knife C is moved forward until the edge of the latter enters the notch (Z, completely rifting a flat piece from the block N. It will be observed however that as the knife is penetrating the wood, the piece about being rifted therefrom will on account of the inclined edge of the knife have a tendency to bend downward. The spring trap E accommodates itself to this bending of the piece until it is entirely rifted from the block when by the reaction of the spring the trap returns to its former position. The flat piece of wood has now fallen onto the trap and the sliding frame B receded so far as to be entirely free from the said piece, which on the return motion of the sliding frame, consequent upon the further turning of the crank, is caught by the shoulder and forced along over the spring trap, and under the first rifting knife C toward and against the vertical edged knives G. Now if the cutting edges of these knives were in a line with each other it would be impossible to rift the flat piece, (already cut from the block) into strips as the latter would in that case become wedged, breaking either the blades or the machine. I therefore arrange my vertical knives as shown in Fig. 4, that is with the edges of some in advance of those of the others and their sides set at dierent angles, so that the Hat piece on being forced against their edges by the shoulder x may be cut into strips, which will pass between the blades and be guided by the angle of their sides7 thus spreading themselves out and falling (on the further movement of the machine) through the space Within the frame A. The machine has now returned to its former position the block N having dropped down consequent upon the removal of the flat piece rifted therefrom7 and the operation may be continued until the entire block is consumed, when another may be placed Within the box.

HavingnovT described the nature of my invention I Wish it to be understood that I do not Wish to confine myself to the exact form of the frame or method of operating the machine or to the exact number of vertical knives shown. But

What I claim and desire to secure by Let- .y

Wood.

WILLIAM O. BISBEE. Witnesses:

HENRY HoWsoN, VILLIAM E. VALTON. 

